Yeah, it definitely looks like a faux-bob. Thank goodness, because I don't like it on her at all. It's just too helmet-y.I have to agree with Andie 10:37. She has horrible posture. I wonder if she slouches because she's the same height (or almost) as her husband?The dress is pretty, but I think it seems more like a juniors kind of look to me. No belt, though! Yay for that!

I actually like it. When I usually see her I see her hair more then her face, so it was refreshing to see it pulled back. And I liked the dress and I liked it on her.

"Andie said...

I think it's funny that everyone always comments that a butch haircut is "cute". I think it looks terrible. Long tresses are the way to go."

I definitely don't think that all short haircuts are "butch." A lot of woman look gorgeous and feminine in short hair, you just have to face for it. Same goes with long hair. It's just not right on everyone, so blanket statements that "long tresses are the way to go" don't work. IMHO

The thing is, most older women cut their hair short because their long hair doesn't look very good or healthy anymore. Michelle Obama is hardly ancient, but it is why sudden changes like this usually look more aging than youthful. I am glad it's just an faux-bob up-do instead of a cut, though. I think that fact changes things and makes me want to vote "cute" since it's only temporary for one event. Something different, better than the schoolmarm do Laura B. rocked for 8 years.

Andie 7/23/09 10:37 AM Also, that dress emphasizes her rounded shoulders and terrible posture. She looks all hunched over. It makes her look a lot older that she is.

She "looks" all hunched over because she is all hunched over; I'm not convinced it's the dress's fault. Look at her in the first pic, she's all "yes, Mr. President is taller than me, no really!" >.>

I wonder if it will ever be ok for the First Lady to have nappy hair, or to sport any of the "ethnic" hairstyles? Maybe she wouldn't like it that way and she never wore it like that even before becoming First Lady, but I dunno. I hope I'm not coming off as offensive or anything; I just happen to like cornrows, and think this is kind of a missed opportunity. XD

As a short haircut -- boring. As an updo -- an elegant way to show off her beautiful face. SO LOVELY. I don't care for the dress, it's one of her heavy-cloth frumpy looks, but I agree the color is great on her.

I like it a lot. I think it's very summery and fresh. If it's just a pinned up style it worked for a quick change up. The dress is okay, the color looks good and like several others have said - thank goodness no belt for a change.

As for what Kali said "I just happen to like cornrows, and think this is kind of a missed opportunity."

Oh heavens, can you just imagine what would be said if Shelly showed up in cornrows? Unless she was swimming I can't even think of all the comments and attacks she would take. Definitely not a doable do. Curls yes, maybe, cornrows no.

"Michelle Obama's hair looks great - it's easy, versatile, and chic," says Coffey. "However the back does look like it was maybe pinned up, not actually cut short. If that's the case I like it even more. It shows how being creative can change the look of your hair into a shorter cut to beat summer heat or keep people guessing."

I like the hair and the dress, although I think it could have used a belt or one of her pins.A great look for July in D.C. although I'm not loving the neckline. Seems odd. More of a V would be better or a mock-wrap on the top.

Hair is lovely -- to my eye, it avoids the too-round helmet head look. But the dress is too young for her, and I really, really wish she would stop hunching her shoulders and slumping. Her posture is terrible, and it's a shame because it makes everything look worse.

Stelllllaaa 7/23/09 12:54 PM Oh heavens, can you just imagine what would be said if Shelly showed up in cornrows? Unless she was swimming I can't even think of all the comments and attacks she would take. Definitely not a doable do. Curls yes, maybe, cornrows no.

Haha, I know it's not doable, I just think that it not being doable, full stop, is not fair. :p

I just think it's too bad that she "has" to straighten her hair, and then it's still won't really be flowy and soft the way non-naturally-nappy hair can be. le sigh. (Or am I underestimating the power of hair treatments? Well, anyway.)

The Prez gave an interview and spoke about the fabulous pie at the White House. He stated that he and Michelle were having a hard time staying away from it as you could get any flavor, 24/7, and every one was the best pie you could ever imagine. Perhaps that is why the belt is not in evidence here..lol.

Love the hair, love the dress. There is a certain demure energy, a sort of luminous 'innocence' (for lack of a better word) to her that shines through, particularly with this dress and hair. I like it.

Also, as someone with naturally curly, frizzy hair that lived most of my life in heavy humidity areas, pinning her hair up in the sweaty heat of DC is smart at this time of the year. It allows her to think about something other than the hair sticking to her face and neck and finally turning her head into the shape and texture of a 'gone to seed' dandelion! Been there, done that..not a good look.

I actually love this hair style so much more than her norm as she typically has her hair flying at least an inch off her scalp before letting it fall down. The style here looks streamline and classy on her, but I think the dress makes her hair look dated moreso than the actual style.

Actually, if she would just let her hair fall naturally, I would like her longer hair being let down, too. Seriously, wall roots ended over a decade ago, stop bringing it back.

They had a side-by-side comparison of this new do to Laura Bush's hair and quite frankly there isn't much difference. If you want to look like a 60+ year old former first lady then this is the do. I'm sorry but this is a big OUT.

"There are two things I do. The UP-TUCK, like you are tucking something in. Then I do a TUCK-UP. The UP-TUCK is when I position a small ponytail somewhere on the head, and then I tuck the rest of the hair up under that ponytail. Then a TUCK-UP is when I take the hair and gather it all in the back and I twist it and I pull up and tuck. And that is what she got last night! A TUCK UP! Not a cut."

I love ShellyO,she is beautiful and amazing, but I don't like the hair, it's not as flattering as a longer do on her. However, I've lived in DC in summer too, and I understand the comfort of the up-do.

As far as the posture goes, I've said it before, I seriously think that she has probably had this hunched look for years, though I haven't researched it. lol. Whether it's because of lack of confidence in her height, or a genetic predisposition for rounded shoulders. Some of us are cursed with them and it doesn't matter how many times we are told to *stand up straight!* I just really hope she doesn't end up looking like Julia Child (love her too) in her later years.

Kira said, "I get the impression that she hunches her shoulders because she's very uncomfortable in the public eye.

I'd be shocked if that were the reason. She's held positions that required her to be out front in public, particularly at the University of Chicago Hospitals, where she was Vice President for Community and External Affairs. Believe me when I tell you, selling the U of C to the surrounding community is probably ten times tougher than being First Lady! You cannot be a shrinking violet in that job (or, indeed, in any of her post-law school jobs).

Bettie said... Her hairstylist Johnny Wright reveals that he didn't cut her hair:

"There are two things I do. The UP-TUCK, like you are tucking something in. Then I do a TUCK-UP. The UP-TUCK is when I position a small ponytail somewhere on the head, and then I tuck the rest of the hair up under that ponytail. Then a TUCK-UP is when I take the hair and gather it all in the back and I twist it and I pull up and tuck. And that is what she got last night! A TUCK UP! Not a cut."

When I thought it was a haircut, I wasn't bowled over as a new everyday look, it was too helmet-y, although in the photo with her sitting next to Accessory it looks great; but now that I know it is a hairstyle, I am completely enthralled and want to know how she did that.

"a said...When I thought it was a haircut, I wasn't bowled over as a new everyday look, it was too helmet-y, although in the photo with her sitting next to Accessory it looks great; but now that I know it is a hairstyle, I am completely enthralled and want to know how she did that."

I like the hair. Actually it reflects what alot of what the style has been doing and continues to do. I mean, it's no biggie it's just a cut that now has her hair shaping her head. I like it because it rounds her face out.But now that everyone says it's a faux bob... I'm not into pretending to cut your hair. Like wear that little wig in the shop, find out if you like it and then snip snip snip, but don't wear it out and about. She's trying to placate us with it basically. She wore it to see the response and if we approve, she'll probably get it cut for real.

She's the First Lady, so she can't go totally stylin according to the latest. This is a Political hairdo! It must be SO hard walking that nearly invisible line between stylish and conservative. I mean, look - her DH wore old baggy jeans to throw a pitch at some game recently, and he caught all kinds of flak - and she did too by implication (can't she control her DH's jeans for goodness sakes??). Pleez. Give her a break - better a mom cut than something the conservatives can rally around screaming She-Devil! And frankly I think she's beautiful, strong, and warm! As long as she's cleansed, moisturized, and her clothes are in good repair, and she doesn't wear giant white plastic hoop earrings with a pink wig or something, I'm happy.